Rowing machine

ABSTRACT

A rowing exercise machine provides a declining, substantially linear path of motion while offering a consistent force angle at the grip. This allows for a fairly consistent torque application at the shoulder joint, throughout the range of motion of the exercise. The exercise machine includes an input assembly which enables a user to maintain biomechanical alignment of the user&#39;s wrist and forearm during performance of the exercise, while maintaining a consistent torque applied to the shoulder joint, in the stability of an exercise machine. The input assembly defines a declining, substantially linear path, where the user&#39;s forearms remain substantially parallel to the ground as the input assembly is drawn back.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/361,622, filed Mar. 4, 2002, entitledROWING MACHINE, the entirety of which is incorporated herein byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

n/a

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of exercise and physicalrehabilitation equipment, and in particular to an apparatus forexercising the upper body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often necessary or desirable for a person to exercise a particularmuscle or group of muscles. For example, when a muscle is damaged, suchas through injury or surgery, it is important to exercise the muscle toprevent atrophy and to strengthen the muscle for normal use. Further,people exercise healthy muscles to increase strength and to maintain anactive and healthy lifestyle, as well as to improve their appearance.Various routines have been developed to exercise different muscle groupsby forcing the muscles to contract and extend under a load, such as bymoving a free weight against the force of gravity or by moving a handlewhose movement is resisted by an exercise machine.

One such exercise is known as a row exercise, where the latisimus dorsimuscles are exercised. An exerciser lies prone on a bench, or bends atthe waist, and grasps a barbell below him. The exerciser then pulls thebarbell towards his torso and lowers it down. This exercise can bedangerous as the exerciser may drop the barbell. Additionally, as thearms are drawn towards the torso, it is difficult to keep them lowenough with respect to the trunk to involve the latisimus effectively.If the user pulls the bar towards the chest, the ability of thelatisimus dorsi muscles to move the resistance decreases.

Furthermore, the exerciser should have a partner to spot him in case hefails to lift the weight. Even if done properly with a partner, thisexercise may not permit the user a full range of exercise since thebarbell may hit the user's chest before the back muscles have contractedfully. When using free weights, the resistance provided by gravity isconstant while the strength of the muscles varies over the range ofmotion. Consequently, the muscles are not fully loaded at each pointover the range.

To overcome these difficulties, machines have been developed thatsimulate the exercise movements of a row/rear deltoid exercise. In oneapparatus, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,402, a user exercises bypulling handles toward his torso. A seat and chest pad are mounted to aframe to position a user. Arms are rotatably mounted to the frame. Thehandles are mounted to the arms. The pivot for the arms is disposedabove the seat. A cable operably connects the arms to a weight stacksuch that when a user pulls back on the handles, thereby rotating thearms, the weight stack is lifted and provides resistance to theexercise. The cable may be journaled over a variable radius cam to alterthe distance the weight is displaced for a given amount of handlerotation at a particular point in the range of motion. Consequently, theresistance to the movement of the handles can be varied to match thestrength curve of the back muscles. Unfortunately, the combination ofrow and rear deltoid exercise requires compromise for both patterns. Therear deltoid exercise is best performed in a transverse plane. The rowexercise is best performed in the sagittal plane. Most row/rear deltoidmachines do not have enough vertical motion at the grip to allow for thefull range of sagittal plane motion required to do the exercisecorrectly.

In another apparatus, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,456, a rowingmachine is disclosed in which levers are rotatably mounted to a frame.Handles are mounted to the levers. Resistance to handle movementexercise is provided by weight plates mounted to the levers. The hingesfor the levers are disposed at diverging angles with respect to acentral vertical midplane, such that the user moves his hands in definedarcs in diverging planes as he pulls back on the handles. This apparatusforces the user's hands to be spread apart as the handles are drawn backtoward the chest. The diverging motion is successful in greaterengagement of the rear deltoid due to it's greater degree of transverseplane motion, but does not allow for enough vertical motion in thesagittal plane to do the row in a way that effectively engages thelatisimus dorsi over the greatest range of motion.

It is object of this invention to provide an exercise machine whichoptimally isolates the latisimus muscle group to maximize muscularbenefit during performance of a row movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention provides a rowing exercise machine with asubstantially linear pattern of motion while offering a variableresistance throughout the range of motion of the muscles being trained.The exercise machine includes an input assembly which enables a user tomaintain biomechanical alignment of the user's wrist and forearm duringperformance of the exercise, while maintaining a consistent resistanceapplied to the muscles, in the stability of an exercise machine. Theinput assembly is engagable by a user, where the input assembly definesa declining, substantially linear path as the input assembly is movedfrom a first position to a second position. A user engages the inputassembly in the first position, where the user's arms and forearms aresubstantially parallel to a horizontal plane define by the ground.

In an exemplary embodiment, the input assembly includes a pair offour-bar linkage mechanisms pivotally connected to the frame. The pairof four-bar linkage mechanisms each including a primary lever armpivotable about a primary axis, a secondary lever arm pivotable about asecondary axis, and a handle operatively associated with both theprimary and secondary lever arms. The primary axes are disposed at anangle with respect to the frame such that the handles travel indiverging planes as the handles are drawn back.

Additionally, the handles arc pivotally connected to both the primarylever arms and the secondary lever arms, so as to travel in declining,substantially linear paths as the handles are drawn back. The declining,substantially linear path enables the user to maintain the properbiomechanical alignment of the force angle being applied to the grip.This allows for a fairly consistent torque application at the shoulderthoughout the range of motion of the exercise. The use of the four barlinkage allows for an insignificant change in angle of the gripthroughout the range even though the primary and secondary levers gothrough a significant change in angle during the same range of motion.This has the effect of allowing the user to maintain proper alignment ofthe wrist and forearm during performance of the exercise. “Proper” or“correct biomechanical positioning,” as used herein, means that theforce angle applied to the grip and the orientation of the user's wristand forearm remains relatively constant from the start to finish of arow exercise motion, i.e., throughout a complete range of motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the exercise machine of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the row exercise machine of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the row exercise machine of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the row exercise machine of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the row exercise machine of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention provides a rowing exercise machine with asubstantially linear range of motion while offering a consistentapplication of torque throughout the range of motion of the shoulderjoint. The exercise machine includes an input assembly which enables auser to maintain biomechanical alignment of the user's wrist and forearmduring performance of the exercise, while maintaining a consistenttorque applied to the shoulder joint, in the stability of an exercisemachine.

Referring to FIG. 1, the input assembly 2 defines a substantially linearpath “P”, wherein the input assembly 2 travels to the nadir of thesubstantially linear path “P” when the input assembly 2 is moved from afirst position “F1” to a second position “F2.” Similarly, the inputassembly 2 travels to the apex of the substantially linear path “P” whenthe input assembly 2 is the moved from the second position “F2” to thefirst position “F1.” The input assembly is configured to keep the user'sforearms substantially parallel to the ground as the input assemblytravel along the substantially linear path “P.”

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the exercise machine 10of the present invention includes a support frame 12 having a front leg14, rear base 16, and a vertical support 18. A seat 20 is mounted to thefront leg 14 of the support frame 12. The seat 20 is adapted to bepositioned at various heights along the front leg 14 to provide acomfortable position for users of varying stature. A chest pad 22 ismounted on the front leg 14 above the seat 20 by a chest pad rod 24. Inan exemplary embodiment, the front leg 14 angles away from the seat 20in an upward direction where the chest pad 22 is disposed forward of theseat 20. The chest pad rod 24 may be of an adjustable length, such as bymeans of a telescoping rod held in position by a pin/detent connection26. The adjustable-length chest pad rod 24 allows users of varyingstature to be positioned at different distances from the machine,thereby permitting a full range of motion. Foot braces 28 are mounted tothe bottom of the support frame 10 and are disposed in front of the seat20. The foot braces 28, seat 20 and chest pad 22 comprise the usersupport adapted to maintain the user in a comfortable, stable positionfor exercising.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the input assembly includes four bar linkagemechanisms 30 a and 30 b pivotally mounted at the distal ends to anupper support frame 36. Four bar linkages 30 a and 30 b are symmetricalin construction, therefore, the below detailed description of linkage 30a is applicable to symmetrical linkage 30 b as well. Four bar linkage 30a includes primary lever arm 32 a, a secondary lever arm 34 a, and ahandle 38 a. The primary lever arm 32 a and secondary lever arm 34 a lieand travel in a common plane which minimally diverges from a verticalmidplane “A” as the primary lever 32 a and the secondary lever 34 a aredrawn back in the direction of arrow “C”, where vertical midplane “A”longitudinally bisects the seat 20. The divergence of the common planeis sufficient to allow the handles 38 a and 38 b to pass on oppositesides of the user.

The primary lever arm 32 a is an elongated bar which is pivotallyconnected at its proximal end to the handle 38 a. The distal end of theprimary lever arm 32 a is pivotally connected to the upper support frame36 by primary axle 42 a disposed about primary axis 44 a.

Secondary lever arm 34 a is similarly an elongated bar which ispivotally connected at its proximal end to handle 38 a, and is pivotallyconnected at its distal end to the upper support frame 38 by secondaryaxle 48 a. The secondary axle 48 a is axially disposed about secondaryaxis 50 a. The primary axis 44 a is disposed at an angle α with respectto a horizontal plane “B”.

In an exemplary embodiment, the secondary axles 50 a and 50 b are spacedfrom and are parallel to the primary axles 44 a and 44 b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the handle 38 a is the forward most component of thefour bar linkage 30 a. The handle 38 a includes a first handle portion52 and a second handle portion 54 curving upwardly from the firstportion 52, at about, for example, a 120-degree angle. The relationshipof the primary lever arm 32 a with the secondary lever arm 34 a is in anunequal length configuration. The unequal lengths force the handle 38 ato tilt downwardly as the primary lever arm 32 a moves from a firstposition to a second position. The effect this has is to cause grip 54to mover in a substantially linear path defined as “P” even though theprimary lever arm 32 a is restricted to an arcuate path of motion. Theangular displacement of the handle 38 a, with respect to the groundplane, that is required to maintain a substantially linear path “P” issmall in magnitude. The small angular displacement of the handle 38 ahelps maintains the grip 54 in a substantially vertical position. Thisenables the user to maintain the proper biomechanical alignment of theuser's wrist and forearm during performance of the exercise. “Proper” or“correct biomechanical positioning,” as used herein, means that theorientation of the user's wrist and forearm remains relatively constantfrom the start to finish of a row exercise motion, i.e., throughout acomplete range of motion.

Additionally, a stop plate 46 is mounted onto the vertical support 18,where the stop plate 46 engages secondary lever arm 34 a when theexercise machine 10 is not in use. The stop plate 46 limits the rearwardmovement of four bar linkages 30 a and 30 b in the direction of arrow

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a weight stack frame 56is attached to the support frame 12 by beams 58 a and 58 b, where theweight stack 60 is easily accessed by a user seated in seat 20.Connection bridges 62 a and 62 b (See also FIG. 4) are rigidly mountedto the front leg 14 and the weight stack frame 56, respectively. Thebridges 62A and 62 b support a transmission 64, including a shaft 66, afirst cam 68 and a second cam 70. (See also FIG. 2) A weight stackpulley set 72 a and 72 b is mounted to the top of the weight stack frame56, with pulley 72 a aligned with the first cam 52 and pulley 72 baligned with the weight stack 60. Guide rods 74 are mounted verticallywithin the weight stack frame 56. The weight stack 60 is glidinglymounted to the guide rods 74 and provides a resistance to the exercise.

In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms for providing resistance,such as friction fitting, springs, elastic bands, hydraulic, pneumaticor electromagnetic resistance, or an air resistance fan could beemployed (either alone or in combination) and still practice theinvention. Additionally, free weights could be operable engaged to thefour-bar linkage 30 a and 30 b to resist the movement.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, the handles 38 a and 38 b areoperably connected to the weight stack 60 via the transmission system64. A pair of frame pulleys 76 are mounted to the vertical support 18 ofthe support frame 12. A lifting pulley 78 is operably connected to thehandles 38 a and 38 b by a first cable 80, wherein the first cable 80 isthreaded about and through the pair of frame pulleys 76, such that thelifting pulley 78 is positioned above the second cam 70. A lifting cable82 connects the lifting pulley 78 to the second cam 70, where the secondcam 70 is caused to rotate when at least one of the handles 38 a or 38 bis pulled back.

A belt 84 is attached at one end to the first cam 68, extending over theweight stack pulleys 72 a and 72 b and attached to the weight stack 60at the opposite end. (See also FIG. 5). As the user pulls back on thehandles 38 a and 38 b, the lifting pulley 78 is raised, causing thelifting cable 80 to unwind and rotate the second cam 70. As the secondcam 70 rotates, the shaft 66 and the first cam 68 rotate as well. Therotation of the first cam 68 pulls the belt 84 over the weight stackpulleys 72 a and 72 b, and thus lifts the weight stack 60.

In an exemplary method of operation, a weight is selected on the mainweight stack 60 by placing a pin (not shown) in one of the holes, as isknown in the art. The user adjusts the seat 20 and chest pad 22 to asuitable position on the front leg 14. For example, a user with a longertorso will adjust the seat to a lower height such that the handles 38 aand 38 b are positioned at a comfortable height parallel with the usersshoulders. The chest pad 22 is adjusted such that when the user graspsthe handles tension is placed on the lifting cable 80. The user graspsthe handles 38 a and 38 b and pulls back causing the lifting pulley 78to he raised. As the lifting pulley 78 is raised, the first cam 70,shaft 66, and second cam 68 rotate, pulling on the belt 84 and liftingthe selected weight. The user then returns the handles 38 a and 38 b tothe initial position, thereby lowering the weight. When the user pullsthe handles 38 a and 38 b back, the resistance provided by the weight isovercome. When the user returns the handles 38 a and 38 b, the usersuccumbs to the resistance provided by the weight.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawingsare not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

1. A row exercise machine comprising an input assembly including a firsthandle portion adapted to be moved from a first no resistance positionto a second resistance position by a pulling force exerted by a user onthe first handle portion in a rowing motion, the input assembly defininga substantially linear path for the first handle portion from the noresistance position to the second position.
 2. The exercise machineaccording to claim 1, further comprising a seat on which a user sits ina row exercise position and a chest pad mounted in a position disposedbetween the first no resistance position of the first handle portion andthe user seated in the row exercise position.
 3. The exercise machineexercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a secondhandle portion, wherein the first handle portion and the second handleportion travel in converging planes as the first handle portion and thesecond handle portion are moved from the second position to the noresistance position.
 4. The exercise machine exercise machine accordingto claim 1, further comprising a frame, wherein the input assembly ispivotally mounted to the frame.
 5. The exercise machine exercise machineaccording to claim 4, wherein the input assembly is pivotally mounted tothe frame forward and above a user.
 6. The exercise machine exercisemachine according to claim 1, further comprising a resistance mechanismoperably connected to the input assembly.
 7. The exercise machineexercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the first handle portionis substantially vertically oriented.
 8. The exercise machine accordingto claim 1, wherein, the first handle portion travels to a nadir of thesubstantially linear path as the first handle portion is moved from theno resistance position to the second position and the first handleportion travels to an apex of the substantially linear path as the firsthandle portion is moved from the second position to the no resistanceposition.
 9. The exercise machine according to claim 8, furthercomprising a second handle portion operatively connected to the inputassemble, the second handle portion traveling to the nadir of thesubstantially linear path as the second handle portion is moved from theno resistance position to the second position and the second handleportion traveling to the apex of the substantially linear path as thesecond handle portion is moved from the second position to the first noresistance position.
 10. The exercise machine according to claim 9,wherein the first handle portion and the second handle are adapted to begrasped by a user, such that the forearms of a user remain substantiallyparallel to the ground as the first handle portion and the second handleare moved from the no resistance position to the second position and thefirst handle portion and the second handle portion are moved from thesecond position to the no resistance position.
 11. The exercise machineaccording to claim 9, wherein the first handle portion and the secondhandle travel in diverging planes as the first handle portion and thesecond handle are moved from the no resistance position to the secondposition.
 12. The exercise machine according to claim 9, wherein thefirst handle portion and the second handle portion travel in convergingplanes as the first handle portion and the second handle portion aremoved from the second position to the no resistance position.
 13. Theexercise machine according to claim 9, wherein the input assemblycomprises a pair of four-bar linkage mechanisms pivotally connected tothe frame, the pair of four-bar linkage mechanisms each including aprimary lever arm pivotable about a primary axis, a secondary lever armpivotable about a secondary axis, and the first handle portion and thesecond handle portion operatively associated with one each of theprimary and secondary lever arms.
 14. The exercise machine according toclaim 1, further comprising a user support structure including: a seatmounted to the frame; and a chest pad mounted to the frame above and infront of the seat.
 15. A row exercise machine comprising: a frame; aninput assembly pivotably mounted to the frame forward and above of auser, the input assembly including a first handle portion and a secondhandle portion and defining a substantially linear path for the firsthandle portion and the second handle portion from a no resistanceposition to a second position by a pulling force exerted by a user onthe first handle portion in a rowing motion; and a resistance mechanismoperably connected to the input assembly.
 16. The exercise machineaccording to claim 15, further comprising a seat on which a user sits ina row exercise position and a chest pad mounted in a position disposedbetween the no resistance position of the first handle portion and theuser in the row exercise position.
 17. The exercise machine according toclaim 15, wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portiontravel in diverging planes as the first handle portion and the secondhandle portion are moved from the no resistance position to the secondposition.
 18. The exercise machine according to claim 15, wherein thefirst handle portion and the second handle portion travel in convergingplanes as the first handle portion and the second handle portion aremoved from the second position to the no resistance position.
 19. Theexercise machine exercise machine according to claim 15, wherein thefirst handle portion and the second handle portion are substantiallyvertically oriented.
 20. The exercise machine according to claim 15,wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion areadapted to be grasped by a user, such that the user's forearms remainsubstantially parallel to the ground as the first handle portion and thesecond handle portion are moved.
 21. The exercise machine according toclaim 15, wherein the input assembly comprises a pair of four-barlinkage mechanisms pivotally connected to the frame, the pair offour-bar linkage mechanisms each including a primary lever arm pivotableabout a primary axis, a secondary lever arm pivotable about a secondaryaxis, and the first handle portion and the second handle portionoperatively associated with one each of the primary and secondary leverarms.
 22. The row exercise machine according to claim 15, furthercomprising a user support structure including: a seat mounted to theframe; and a chest pad mounted to the frame above and in front of theseat.
 23. A row exercise machine comprising: a frame; user supportstructure mounted to the frame including a seat and a chest pad; aninput assembly pivotably mounted to the frame forward and above of theseat, the input assembly including a pair of four-bar linkage mechanismseach having a primary lever arm pivotable about a primary axis, asecondary lever arm pivotable about a secondary axis, a pair of handleportions operably operatively associated with one each of the primaryand secondary lever arms and defining a substantially linear path whenmoved from a no resistance position to a second position, wherein thepair of handle portions travel to a nadir of the substantially linearpath as the pair of handle portions are moved from the no resistanceposition to the second position and the pair of handle portions travelto an apex of the substantially linear path as the pair of handleportions are moved from the second position to the no resistanceposition; and a resistance mechanism operably connected to the inputassembly.
 24. The exercise machine according to claim 22, wherein thechest pad is mounted in a position disposed between the no resistanceposition of the handle portion and the user when seated on the seat in arow exercise position.
 25. The exercise machine according to claim 22,wherein the pair of handle portions travel in converging planes as thepair of handle portions are moved from the second position to the noresistance position.